Jahangir Mahal, Citadel of Jahangir, Orchha Palace, Mahal-e-Jahangir Orchha, Jahangir Citadel is a citadel and garrison located in
Orchha
Orchha is a town, near city of Niwari in Niwari district of Madhya Pradesh state, India. The town was established by rajput ruler Rudra Pratap Singh some time after 1501, as the seat of an eponymous former princely state of covering parts of c ...
,
Madhya Pradesh, India
Madhya Pradesh (, ; meaning 'central province') is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal, and the largest city is Indore, with Jabalpur, Ujjain, Gwalior, Sagar, and Rewa being the other major cities. Madhya Pradesh is the second la ...
.
History
The establishment of the Jahangir Mahal dates back to the 17th century C E when the ruler of the region
Vir Singh Deo
Vir Singh Deo, also known as Bir Singh Dev, was a Bundela Rajput chief and the ruler of the kingdom of Orchha. He was a vassal of the Mughal Empire. and ruled between 1605 and either 1626 or 1627.
Vir Singh Deo assassinated Abul Fazl who was ret ...
built the structure as a symbol of warm reception of the Mughal Emperor
Jahangir
Nur-ud-Din Muhammad Salim (30 August 1569 – 28 October 1627), known by his imperial name Jahangir (; ), was the fourth Mughal Emperor, who ruled from 1605 until he died in 1627. He was named after the Indian Sufi saint, Salim Chishti.
Ear ...
, during the latter’s first visit to the city. The entrance of the palace is marked by an artistic and traditional gateway. The front wall of the structure faces to the east and is covered with turquoise tiles. Jahangir Mahal is a three-storied structure that is marked by stylishly hanging balconies, porches, and apartments.
The domes of the Jahangir Mahal, were built according to
Timurid Timurid refers to those descended from Timur (Tamerlane), a 14th-century conqueror:
* Timurid dynasty, a dynasty of Turco-Mongol lineage descended from Timur who established empires in Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent
** Timurid Empire of C ...
customs; its grand
Iwan
An iwan ( fa, ایوان , ar, إيوان , also spelled ivan) is a rectangular hall or space, usually vaulted, walled on three sides, with one end entirely open. The formal gateway to the iwan is called , a Persian term for a portal projecting ...
s are large enough to accommodate the entry of
war elephant
A war elephant was an elephant that was trained and guided by humans for combat. The war elephant's main use was to charge the enemy, break their ranks and instill terror and fear. Elephantry is a term for specific military units using elephant ...
s, and its high position over the landscape allowed
cannon
A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...
s superior range.
See also
*
Orchha Fort complex
The Orchha Fort complex, which houses a large number of ancient monuments consisting of the fort, palaces, temple, and other edifices, is located in the Orchha town in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The fort and other structures within it ...
for the larger architectural context
*
Pravin Rai Mahal
Pravin Rai Mahal is a palace in Madhya Pradesh built by prince (and later King) Indrajit Singh in 1618. It was built for his love interest, Pravin Rai, who was a beautiful poet and musician, also known as the "Nightingale of Orchha". It is a stat ...
, a subpalace
References
Bibliography
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{{Mughal Empire, state=expanded
Mughal Empire
Rajput architecture
Palaces in Madhya Pradesh
Tourist attractions in Tikamgarh district
Orchha
Royal residences in India